U.S. is in for a rude awakening, but the future is now

	He's only 22, but Gold Cup hero Benny Feilhaber (5) is the best of the batch of young Americans who are stepping forward. Chuck Rydlewski/WireImage.com
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Like most American soccer fans, I have a regular crew that plays Monday morning quarterback after every U.S. national-team game. (They'll probably hound me for using a football analogy, but, hey, SI.com is home of the best MMQB in the biz.)

Here's the first line from my buddy Marc's e-mail this morning, in the wake of the Americans' 2-1 defeat of Mexico in the Gold Cup on Sunday: "I haven't jumped off my couch like that for a goal since the '02 World Cup."

Amen to that, brother.

Benny Feilhaber's stunning full-volley in the 71st-minute was as close to perfection as a shot can ever be. The skill, imagination and self-belief required to strike a ball like that ... man, it's indescribable.

At least it's indescribable in English. On Univision, they called it a "Golaaaaaazo!" A goal like that is a gift, not only to the player, but to everyone, and it deserves a good jump off the couch. (Click here to see it.)

This behavior, of course, immediately elicited a sullen look of pity from the girl I've recently started dating. She was still confused why we were watching the game in Spanish ("the goal calls are better") and this sudden spastic Ronald-Miller-dancing-in-Can't-Buy-Me-Love routine didn't help things. She doesn't quite understand the intricacies of the game but -- until now, at least -- she's humored my love (read: mania) for it.

"But you see," I began, "Benny hits it out of the air and he gets all of it, the sweet spot, knee over the ball, perfect form, into the side netting. Against Mexico in a final. Oh, man, it's better than sex!"

At which point, she shook her head, said, "Maybe you're doing it wrong," and went back to her Travel + Leisure.

With a day of reflection under our belts, I realize Marc and I weren't just jumping off the couch for Feilhaber's wondergoal. We were ecstatic over Feilhaber's entire performance. He had a tremendous Gold Cup, putting in several complete 90-minute, box-to-box displays that suggest great things to come.

We have a tendency in this country to anoint the next big thing very quickly, usually too quickly. American soccer observers are especially guilty of this, myself included (see: Matt Taylor). So I'm not going to claim Feilhaber is the future of American soccer. He's only 22 and is still not a regular with his club team. But he's got something.

First of all, he possesses the tools of a steady talent to be reckoned with. He maintains his composure on the ball. He's tenacious and hard on defense. And most important he's fearless and respectfully unimpressed with his opponents. This last bit is going to be vital in the next few weeks when the U.S. competes in the Copa América.

In case you haven't seen Bob Bradley's roster for the Copa, it's not even a junior-varsity squad. Because the U.S. is a "guest" team in Venezuela, the European clubs did not have to release their players. Furthermore, some of the biggest MLS names, such as Landon Donovan and Brian Ching, were left off for various reasons. That leaves a side with 15 MLSers out of 22 total players, and 14 of the 22 possessing seven or fewer caps.

In other words, the U.S. is going to go down to South America, walk onto the field against Argentina, with its fully armed battery of Juan Román Riquelme, Lionel Messi and Carlos Tévez, and be steamrolled as flat as a Venezuelan arepa.

However, just for argument's sake, what if that doesn't happen? What if the U.S. team, undermanned and underpowered, goes out there and does OK? Maybe they lose by a goal. Or maybe they get a draw. Or even a win. What would people say?

It wouldn't be unprecedented: The last time the U.S. played in the Copa América, it beat Argentina 3-0. I know this is a ridiculous comparison. That 1995 U.S. team was fully loaded with veterans of the '94 World Cup. This one has Drew Moor.

There U.S. program has incredible momentum. After winning the Gold Cup, the team -- no matter who's wearing the actual jerseys, it seems -- is hopped up on confidence.

And so even though the Americans are basically going to South America on an educational field trip, as Bradley has admitted, there is still some room for optimism. The goal is to test these young players who might have a big role in the future, but what's even more important, I think, is that the players realize that no matter who they're facing, no matter who dons the jersey, they feel like they can compete. That's the mark of a truly good national side.

Feilhaber now has eight caps. It's a piddly amount compared with the 38 of Riquelme. But trust me, Feilhaber can compete with anyone on the field, even Riquelme.

No, he can't top Riquelme. But he can compete with him. And that's saying something. In fact, that's saying a lot. Even more than making grown men jump off their couches.